A theory of the key novel as an aesthetically and morally questionable genre, as well as a portrayal of contemporary societal norms. The key novel is a dubious genre. Behind its seemingly fictional characters, real individuals can be recognized, who are exposed through suggestive strategies. The author of a key novel uses the narrative as a weapon in personal and political conflicts. This potential has earned the key novel a reputation for aesthetic and moral inferiority; the accusations include: sensationalism, opinion journalism, or pseudo-artistic indiscretion. Where a concept provokes such intense irritation, it is natural to inquire about the reasons for this discomfort. Using numerous examples of key novel events since the 1960s, Johannes Franzen examines issues of fiction and genre theory.